Mining-machine cutter chain



NOV. 25, 1930. CARTLIDGE 1,782,408

MiNING MACHINE CUTTER CHAIN Filed July 11 92 2 Shee Ls-Sheet l f I INVENTOR. flank Cart/h1g6,

A TTORNEY5 NOV. 25, 1930. F CARTUDGE 1,782,408

MINING MACHINE CUTTER CHAIN Filed July 11, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 D O O O o O I 11 A I N V EN TOR;

Frank Cartlzdge,

A TTORNEYJ' Patented Nov. 1930 UNITED PATENT OFFICE FRANK CARTLIDGE, ,OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGZNOR T CINCINNATI IMA- CHINERY (10., CINGIIINATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO MINING-MACHIN E CUTTER CHAIN Application filed July 11, 1924. Serial No. 725,371.

,My invention relates to improvements in cutter chains and is particularly applicable for cutter chains for mining machinery and the like.

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One of the objects of my invention is to provide a chain having as few wearing parts as possible, which will'be prevented from buckling backward and thereby present, during its c-uttin operation, the-effect of a solid bar and whie shall have improved means for mounting the cuttin bit.

For the purpose of disclosing my invention I have illustrated one embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of so much of a cutting chain as is necessary to illustrate the invention; Fig. 2 is an end View of the bit link; Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of a connector link; Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 6 is an end View thereof; Fig. 7 is a detail View of the rivet connector for the links; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of another form of chain embodying my invention; Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a section of such chain; Fig. 10 an under plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 an end elevation of the left end of Fig. 9.

1n the embodiment illustrated the bit carrying link 1 is made in a single unitary structure having a longitudinally extending slot 2 extending the full length thereof between a pair of side walls 3. These side walls at their ends are rounded as at 1 and along each side at their bottoms are provided with transversely extending guide ribs 5 which extend substantially the full length of the walls. At either end the two side walls are provided with circular openings 7 for the reception of the connector rivets and the walls of these openings are flared outwardlyas at8 for a purpose more fully hereinafter descrlbed.

The upper or bit carrying portion 9 of the .link bridges'the side walls, being made integral therewith and is provided with a diagonally {extending opening 10 for the reception of the cutter bit 11, the bit belng held in position by a screw 12 which is threaded into the end of the, ortion 9 and engages the bit. The angle 0 the opening 10 may be varied according to the required pitch in each link and, due to the fact that the opening is set at an angle, as indicated, I am enabled to use much longer cutting bits. This bridging portion 9 is cut away at its front and rear, as at 13, to provide passageways or openings extending through the link, which prevent accumulations of cuttings in the sprocket tooth space. At each end the side members are provided with squared projections 14, for

a purpose more-fully hereinafter apparent.

The connector links 15 are preferably skeleton in form and are provided at each end with circular openings 16 adapted to coincide with the openings 7 in the bit carrying link. These connector links, at their lower ends, are provided with transversely extending side ribs 17 and at their tops are provided with transversely extending ears 18 which, when the connector links are assembled with the bit carrying links, are interposed between the projecting lugs 14 on the bit carrying links. In assembly, the connector links fit in the transversely extending slots 2 in the bit carrying links and the links are connected together by rivets 19 which extend through the openings 16 and 7 of the links and have their ends flanged outwardly over the outwardly flared walls 8 of the openings in the bit carrying links.

Surrounding the rivets are sleeves 20 which, at their ends are provided with lugs 21 adapted to fit in slots 22 formed on the inner faces of the side walls to prevent the rotation of the sleeves on the rivets 19 and thereby take the wear of the movement of the connector links on the rivets.

It will be noted that, due to the projecting lugs 1d and the cars 18 respectively on the bit carrying links and the connector links, the buckling of the chain backward is prevented, thereby preventing undue wear on the guide flanges or ribs 5 and 17 of the links. It furthermore insures solidity of the chain during its cutting movement.

In the construction shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, the chain is of such character as to be flexible in two planes and thus be available for use in those types of machines where the cutter chain is carried over guides which are bent so that the cutting takes place in two planes.

In this embodiment of my invention, the links 1 are, in general, like links 1, embodying the parts 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, ll, 12, 13 and 14 as previously described and also embodying longitudinal strengthening ribs 50 along the edges of the side walls 3 opposite the edges which carry ribs 5, thus strengthening the ends of these side walls against outward bend.

Instead of connector links 15, I provide an articulated connector link, articulated upon an axis at right angles to the axis to connections to the links 1. Each articulated connector comprises an element 51 and an element 52 which are pivotally connected by pin 53, the elements 51 and 52 being each perforated for connection with adjacent links l by a rivet-sleeve element 1920 as previously described. Each element 52 is provided with lateral flanges 54 formed to run in the guide ways which will receive guide ribs 5, and also with shoulders 55 which will cooperate with shoulders 14 as lug 18 cooperates with shoulders 14 as shown in Fig. 1, thus limiting the swing of element 52 in one direction, relative to link 1 to which it is connected. The coordination of the parts, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, is such that the cutter chain will have sufiicient flexibility to the two planes in orderto be capable of use in that type of machines diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8, where bent cutter chain guides are provided.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cutter-carrying block for coal cutting chains comprising a pair of side plates between the ends of which two connector blocks may be pivotally mounted forming an intermediate sprocket tooth throat between the adjacent ends of such connector blocks, said side plates being connected by an integral cross bar through which is diagonally extended a cutter-receiving passage extended into a side plate, such passage intersecting the space between the side plates in such manner that an inserted cutter bit will project into the sprocket tooth throat overlapping the tip of the tooth in the corner between a side plate and'the cross bar but free of the tip of the sprocket tooth.

2. In a cutter chain the combination with a cutter link having a longitudinally extendslots on the inner walls of the channel to prevent the rotation of said sleeve.

3. A cutter chain comprising a multiplicity of main links having guide ribs, and a multiplicity of interspersed connector links, each connector link comprising two elements, each articulated with an adjacent main link and the axes of such articulations being substantially parallel and at right angles to the axis of articulation of the two elements, one of said connector link elements carrying guide ribs alignable with the guide ribs of the main links.

4. A cutter chain comprising a multiplicity of main links having guide ribs and a multi plicity of interspersed connector links, each connector link comprising two elements, each articulated with an adjacent main link and the axes of such articulations being substantially parallel and at right angles to the axis of articulation of the two elements, one of said connector link elements carrying guide ribs alignable with the guide ribs of the main links and one of said elements being so formed as to coact with an adjacent main link to limit swing of the articulated con nector link in one direction upon the axis of articulation between the main link and connector link.

In witness whereof, I, FRANK CARTLIDGE, have hereunto set my hand at Cincinnati, Ohio, this 8th day of July, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twenty-four.

FRANK CARTLIDGE. 

